England in the ascendancy as second Test enters decisive phase

Pakistan reached 198-4 at stumps on day three of the second Test against England in Multan.

The home side requires another 157 runs to win the match and level the series after being a set a target of 355 runs.

Imam and Saud added 108 runs for the fourth wicket to help Pakistan breathe easy in the Test match after losing three quick wickets.

However, towards the end of the day’s play Imam, who scored 60 runs, played a drive away from his body and edged one to Joe Root at first slip on the bowling of Jack Leach.

Saud Shakeel holds the key for Pakistan since he is unbeaten on 54 runs. He will resume Pakistan's innings alongside Faheem Ashraf (3) on day four. 

Earlier, three excellent deliveries by England’s pacers sent Pakistan’s top-order batters back to the hut in the second session of the day.

Rizwan was left bemused after Anderson zipped one round the edge of his bat and into the off stump. The wicketkeeper, who opened in place of Imam, scored 30 runs.

Meanwhile, Ollie Robinson bagged the prized scalp of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for the second time in the match. Azam, who scored just one run, was clean bowled after he left a ball which jagged wickedly off the pitch.

The third Pakistan batter to depart was opener Abdullah Shafique, who was castled by a fast delivery by Mark Wood. The right-hander scored 45 runs with the help of four fours and two sixes.

England were all out for 275 in their second innings on Sunday, after Harry Brook top-scored for the tourists with 108, while Ben Duckett made 79.

Pakistan spinners Abrar Ahmed and Zahid Mahmood shared seven wickets between them.

Debutant Abrar finished with a match haul of 11 wickets.

Pakistan were dismissed for 202 in their first innings and conceded a lead of 79 runs.

Pakistan are 1-0 down in the three-match series after losing the first Test in Rawalpindi.

It must be noted that England took full advantage of winning the toss — and their batting depth — to win the first Test by 74 runs Monday on a dead wicket that offered nothing to the bowlers.

Rawalpindi yielded 1,768 runs in four innings — the third most in Test history — with seven individual centuries and five fifties.

England are on their first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005, having declined to visit in the interim years on security grounds.

The third and final Test of the series is in Karachi from December 17-21.